Moberly's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post — 2654 — hosted a Veteran's Day Tribute program and meal following Saturday's (Nov. 9) Veteran's Day Parade in town.

Master of Ceremonies Mary Wolf welcomed the crowd, and the Moberly High School JROTC posted the colors during a drum cadence by D. Michael Kroner. It was not the only spotlight given to the fledgling group.

The National Anthem was led by David Donica, and Wolf led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Jeremy Kendall gave the invocation.

Moberly Mayor John Kimmons presented a Veteran's Day Proclamation to the group.

Wolf asked it there were any former prisoners of war in the crowd. There were none.

She then introduced the program's speaker, SGM Darrell Tucker — one of the leaders of the aforementioned JROTC program.

"I kind of look at my job as a bridge," Tucker said, explaining how it can be a transition point for many students.

"I've had some great jobs throughout my career," he said. "This has, by far, been the most fun, and the most rewarding."

Tucker went on to explain the progress of the first-year club to the crowd — how they will make money, the different activities they participate in, the general tasks they try to accomplish.

"We treat it just like a regular unit," he said, noting that there and ranks achieved and goals set.

Tucker also said that to compete in his group's extracurricular programs, students must keep their grades at a C-level or higher. A D or an F mark results in him turning said student away, as part of his education-first philosophy.

"A lot of the students want to go into the military," he said. "I try to talk them into getting their education first."

Following Tucker's speech, Cmdr. Dan Avery, of VFW Post 2654, and Cmdr. Kevin Bartholmey, of American Legion Post 6, performed the "laying of the wreath" ceremony.

Barbara Morgan led the recognition of those persons deceased since the last Veteran's Day. She was assisted by a pair of local boy scouts, from Cairo's Troop 98, who punctured a small flag into a green styrofoam mat for each name Morgan read. The mat was full by the ceremony's completion.

Due to technical difficulties, the military medley was put off until this time, from an earlier point in the program. Molly Nuhn led this, and service members from each military branch were asked to stand when they heard their song played.

Wolf recognized the youngest and oldest veterans in attendance.

Kendall gave the closing prayer, and TAPS was played.

A meal was presented following the presentation, and then Jimmie Null and the Big "G" Bluegrass Band entertained the crowd with a show.